(1 John 1:1-4)
1. The Incarnation
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes and our hands have touched, concerning the
Word of life. How could anyone have touched the Word if it had not become flesh and dwelt among us? This Word that became flesh to be touched by our hands began to be flesh in Mary's womb. But the Word didn't begin to exist then, because John says of it that it was from the beginning. See if the gospel doesn't confirm the letter—his gospel begins, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God."
Is there anyone who will take the phrase Word of life as an expression used to designate Christ, and not as his body, which was touched by human hands? See what comes next: And life itself was made manifest. Christ is then the Word of life. And how was life made manifest? It was from the beginning, but it wasn't manifest to human beings. It was manifest to angels, who saw it and ate it as their bread. Scripture says that men have eaten the bread of angels." And so life itself was made manifest in the flesh. This manifestation took place so that our eyes might see something that only hearts could see, and in this way our hearts might be healed. Only hearts could see the Word. Our bodily eyes could see the flesh but not the Word. '"The Word became flesh," which we could see, to heal our hearts, which could see the Word.
And we saw it, and testify to it. Where did we see it? We saw it in its manifestation. That means that we saw it in this visible light that comes from the sun. What made it possible to see the stn's Maker in the sun's light? The psalm tells us that 'he placed his tabernacle in the sun; and, like a bridegroom coming out of his bridal chamber, he rejoiced as a giant to run his course." The sun's Maker existed before there was a sun or a morning star or any of the constellations; he existed before any of the angels; he is the true Creator, because "everything was made by him and without him nothing was made." "He placed his tabernacle in the sun" so that we could see him with the eyes with which we look at the sun; he showed us his flesh by manifesting it in this earthly light. His "bridal chamber" was the Virgin's womb, because it was there that the bridegroom and bride were united, the bridegroom being the Word and his flesh the bride. It is written in the book of Genesis that "they shall be two in one flesh," and in the gospel the Lord says, "'So they are no longer two but one flesh." But it is Isaiah who expresses this best when he says in the name of Christ, *He has wreathed me as a bridegroom, and as a bride he has adorned me with jewels." One person is speaking, claiming to be both bridegroom and bride. There are not two but one flesh, because
"the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."'
We testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—among, us, or to us. That which we have seen and heard we proclaim to you. 'They saw the Lord himself present in his flesh; and they heard the words that came from his mouth, and they proclaimed them to us. We too have heard his words, but we haven't seen him. Are we less fortunate than those who both saw and heard? If that were so why would he add, so that you too may have communion with us? They saw; we haven't seen. But even so we are sharers with them, because we have the same faith. One of the disciples didn't believe even when he saw. He said that he wouldn't believe unless he put his fingers in the place of the nails and touched Jesus' wounds. At that moment Jesus allowed human hands to touch him—the one who lets angels behold him always! And the disciple felt him and cried out, *My Lord and my God!" Because he touched a man he acknowledged God. And to console us who can't touch one now seated in heaven, but who can reach him by faith, the Lord told him, "You have believed because you have seen me; blessed are those who do not see and
THEINCARNATION / 3 who believe." He is pointing to us, describing us! Let us experience this blessedness! Let us hold firmly what we do not see, because those who saw have proclaimed it.
So that you too, John says, may have communion with us. Is this so much—communion with other human beings? Don't belittle it. See what he adds: And our communion may be with God the Father and with his son Jesus Christ. And these things, he says, we write to you that your joy may be full. In that fellowship, that love, that unity, our joy is full; that is what he is saying.